Sincerity

Lu Shaoyou's gaze swept over Wei Tuo's face, then fell on Scarface Zhang, who was kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy.

Blood droplets slowly slid down the Qi Mei Cudgel in his hand, falling onto the wooden floor with soft "patters."

"Helmsman Wei, your way of inviting people is rather unique." No emotion could be heard in Lu Shaoyou's voice.

Wei Tuo piled on a smile and took two steps forward. The gang members behind him followed, pressing closer and invisibly exerting pressure on Lu Shaoyou.

"You jest, little brother. I see that your skills are extraordinary—you are a true talent. The Giant Whale Gang has always welcomed worthy men. If you would honor us by coming to my branch helm for a cup of humble wine, would that not be wonderful?"

Scarface Zhang was so frightened that he was nearly wetting himself. He looked tremblingly at Wei Tuo, then cast a terrified glance at Lu Shaoyou.

He feared that with one strike of Lu Shaoyou's cudgel, he would follow in the footsteps of those four subordinates.

"No need for drinks." Lu Shaoyou replied blandly. "I still have matters to attend to, so I won't impose any longer." As he spoke, he made as if to leave.

This room was filthy now. It was clearly no longer fit to stay in.

"Wait, little brother!" Wei Tuo's voice sank. "You killed men from our Giant Whale Gang here at Dragon Snake Crossing, and you think you can just walk away like that?"

The smile faded from his face, and the bearing of a formidable tyrant radiated from him. "I respect you as a man, which is why I am speaking kindly. If you refuse to show me respect, then the two or three hundred brothers of my Dragon Snake Crossing branch helm are not to be taken lightly."

"Oh? So this is a threat?" Lu Shaoyou halted and turned around, lightly planting the Qi Mei Cudgel in his hand.

Wei Tuo snorted. "It cannot be called a threat. I am merely reminding you, little brother, that the waters of Azure Province run far deeper than you imagine. When traveling abroad, having one more friend is always better than having one more enemy."

"Especially in this lawless land of Azure Province. If you offend our Giant Whale Gang, I fear you will find it hard to take even a single step."

His tone shifted, and he smiled meaningfully. "Little brother, you are so young, yet your martial arts are already so formidable. You must not be some nobody."

"You came to Azure Province with some purpose in mind, didn't you? Perhaps our Giant Whale Gang can be of some help."

"For instance, if there is news you wish to learn, or someone you wish to deal with..."

Wei Tuo's eyes wandered over Lu Shaoyou, as if trying to read something from his face.

Lu Shaoyou remained silent, seeming to consider Wei Tuo's words.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Scarface Zhang barely dared to breathe. He only hoped the helmsman could suppress this baleful star, allowing him to escape this calamity.

Just then, Lu Shaoyou suddenly moved!

His figure flashed. Everyone merely saw a blur before their eyes, and the ebony Qi Mei Cudgel shot forth like lightning!

Squelch!

A dull sound rang out as a weapon pierced flesh.

Scarface Zhang's body stiffened sharply. He lowered his head in disbelief, staring at the cudgel tip that had pierced through his chest, his eyes filled with despair and confusion.

His lips moved as though he wanted to say something, but only blood mixed with shattered organs poured from his mouth.

Killed a second-rate martial artist. Slaughter Value +200.

"Y-you..." Scarface Zhang's throat made hoarse gurgling sounds. His body crumpled to the ground, utterly silent.

This sudden scene left everyone present stunned.

The seven or eight skilled fighters Wei Tuo had brought all changed expression. Instinctively gripping their weapons tighter, they glared furiously at Lu Shaoyou.

Wei Tuo himself also had his pupils contract, and the muscles in his face twitched.

He had never expected Lu Shaoyou to kill his man so cleanly and decisively right in front of him! This was naked provocation!

"Good! Good! Good!" Rather than becoming angry, Wei Tuo laughed, saying "good" three times in a row.

He clapped his hands. "Little brother, you truly are extraordinary. You act without dragging through mud and water! I, Wei Tuo, like that kind of temperament!"

The gang members behind him looked at their helmsman in confusion, unable to understand why he was not furious.

Lu Shaoyou withdrew the Qi Mei Cudgel and wiped the blood from it on Scarface Zhang's clothes, his movements calm and unhurried. "I dislike trouble. Since they are enemies, there is no need to keep them alive."

"Well said!"

Wei Tuo strode up to Lu Shaoyou, his eyes blazing as he stared at him. "Little brother, I admire your skills and your ruthlessness! What I said earlier still stands."

"So long as you are willing to join my Giant Whale Gang, we will ensure you can swagger sideways through Azure Province! Wealth, glory, and riches will be within easy reach!"

"Join you?" Lu Shaoyou raised a brow. "And then collect protection fees for you and bully decent people, just like them?"

Wei Tuo burst into laughter. "Little brother, that is not right! What is bullying decent people? This world has always been one where the strong devour the weak! If you do not bully others, others will come bully you!"

"Our Giant Whale Gang seeks survival and growth in these troubled times! Follow me, and there will be meat to eat, wine to drink, and women to enjoy. That is far better than fighting alone, never knowing when you might end up as a corpse in the street!"

He leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Besides, I can tell that you did not come to Azure Province merely to sightsee, did you? The killing intent on you is not something an ordinary man could possess."

"Tell me, what exactly do you want to do? Perhaps we can cooperate. It would benefit everyone."

Lu Shaoyou looked at Wei Tuo, thoughts racing through his mind.

This Wei Tuo was indeed a formidable figure—able to bend and stretch as needed, with a sharp and venomous eye.

"Cooperate?" Lu Shaoyou repeated. "How would we cooperate?"

A gleam flashed through Wei Tuo's eyes. "Very simply. You do things for me, and I give you what you want. I know that an expert like you would never be content to remain beneath another."

"I do not need you to bow and pledge allegiance to me. We would be equal partners."

He paused, then threw out an even more tempting condition. "Little brother, do you know who the greatest scourge of Azure Province is?"

Lu Shaoyou's heart stirred, but his expression remained unchanged. "I would like to hear the details."

"The Blood Saber Sect!" Wei Tuo said word by word. "That malignant tumor has entrenched itself in Azure Province for years. They act viciously, and no one dares provoke them. Though our Giant Whale Gang has some influence on the waterways, compared to the Blood Saber Sect, we are still lacking."

He stared at Lu Shaoyou. "With your skills, little brother, if you only intend to deal with a few worthless lackeys, would that not be wasting your talent?"

"Are you interested in pulling off something big? For instance, letting the Blood Saber Sect have a taste of what it feels like when someone comes knocking at their door?"

Lu Shaoyou fell silent for a moment before suddenly speaking. "What makes you think I would be interested in the Blood Saber Sect?"

Wei Tuo grinned. "Instinct. A fierce dragon crossing the river like you surely did not come to Azure Province to fish, did you?"

"Besides, my men reported that while you were on the boat, you asked the boatman about the Blood Saber Sect. If you say you have no connection to them, I would not believe it."

"Helmsman Wei, your information network is quite efficient." Lu Shaoyou's expression changed, and a wave of killing intent silently rose from his body.

Wei Tuo frowned as that killing intent struck him. His hand unconsciously clenched as shock filled his heart. This brat is so young—how can his killing intent be even heavier than mine?

As for the men behind him, each of them looked as though facing a great enemy. That terrifying killing intent made even these lawless men unable to stop their expressions from changing.

"Rest assured, I still have some sense of honor. I would not go so far as to make things difficult for that old boatman."

Wei Tuo waved a hand and continued explaining, "Your Excellency wiped out the Water Snake Gang at Ghost's Worry. Although no one witnessed it firsthand, only your boat passed by at the time. With a little deduction, it was not difficult to discover."

Hearing this, Lu Shaoyou withdrew his aura and once more appeared as harmless as man and beast.

His thoughts turned rapidly. He cast a thoughtful glance at the corpses on the ground, and a meaningful curve rose at the corner of his mouth.

The next moment, he slowly spoke.

"Cooperation is possible. But you will have to show some sincerity first."